Variable-pressure regulator



Mar. 3. 1925. v 1,528,297

- R. E. JONES VARIABLE PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed May 28 1923 30/ \l 2a w w g s 420% MINVENTOR PAM g5 /4; ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

RAIiPH: ERN-nsr Joints, on sent ent-Lillian, CANAL zonn.

VARIABLE-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Application fi-lemMay 28 1923. SeriaLNo; 641,975,.

To all whomit may conccma' Beit known that I,-RALI?1I ERNEST; JoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camp Gaillard, int-he Canal Zone, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements in Variable-PressureRegulators, t whichthe following is aspecification;

This invention relatesto a variablepressure regulator,t-l1at;is to a device which-may be adjusted at Will and'will thereafter automatically regulate and determine the pressure of fluid passingtherethrough.

An object of the invention. is-to provide a simple, practical and efficient. device by which the pressure to bedelivered, may be easily andaccurately determined oriby which the pressure delivered may be altered as he. qucntly as may be desired. t

Other objects and aims: of the invention, more or less specific than those; referred: to above, will be in part obvious and in; part pointed out in the course: of: thefollowing description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention, and the scope of protectioncontemplated will be indicated inthe appended claims In the accompanying drawings :whiclrv are i to be takenas a part ot'this specification, and iIiWlllCli I have shown merely a preferred form of: embodiment of: the invention z Figure 1 is a. vertical centralsectional view through the regulator constructed in accordance with'this invention.

Figure 2 is'a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line IT-II of Fig. 1', and

Figure?) is asimilarsectional view taken upon the plane of line TIL-I'll of Fig. 1.

Referringto the drawings: for describing in detail the structure therein ilhistrated, the reference character L indicates the body; of the regulator. This is providedwritha main chamben 1 extending longitudinally thereof, being. closed at its lower endas at-2, and: an auxiliary chamber 'prei erablyz para-lleh with the first chamber but of smaller area.

Within the chamber, or cylinder, 1,is' ar ranged a piston t preferably provided with suitable packing rings or the like as 5 intended to'prevent the passage of any fluid upwardly from the space beneath thepiston.

To the upper side of the piston is connected a piston rod 6 which continues upwardly along the axial line ot'the chamber and carries at its upper end a head 7. This head-is intended to be freely rotatable'relar tive to said rod, and for: this'purpose the drawing illustrates the rod to be provided with areduced extension 8 upon which the head is mounted and which; provides a shoulder 9 for; preventing movement of the head in one direction along the rod, movement in the opposite direction being pre vented by a retaining nut or other like member 10. I

Arranged within the chamber and preferablysurrounding the piston rod is a. compression spring. 11% adapted for urging the piston and the parts connected therewith downwardly. The lower end of this-spring engagesthe upper surface of the piston. The upper end of the spring may press against any part fixed to the body, but for convenicnc'e it is shown to restagainst a perforated disc which is fixed Within the chamber and through which the piston rod, loosely passes;

Fitted into the upper end of the chan'1ber isarotatable sleeve G,,and Within thisisa second and independently rotatable sleeve H. The sleeve G has a straight longitudi nally extending slot 12 provided; therein while the sleeve Hhasa relatively inclined slot as 13 formed longitudinally thereof. The swivel head 7 is arranged within the sleeve I-Iandis provided with a radially ex.- tending. pin 14 which extends through the slot 13. and into the slot 12.

By this:arrangement it will be apparent that any, movement of the piston either upwardly or downwardly relativetothe sleeves will cause the sleeve H to rotate relative, to the sleeve G.

The sleeve G is provided with an operating handle 15 whichprojectsoutwardly through anopening; 1'6 oft the body by which said sleeve may-be manually, or otherwise, rotated into any desired position.

It may be here-noted that the sleeve G will. be held in any posit-ion to which it may be movedby handle 15' either by. frictional en'- gagement of itself with the walls of the chamber or by a suitable spring gripping device such as isindicated bythe reference character 17. Also that suitable graduation marks may be provided associated with the handle and properly identified for visually determining the extent of movement necessary for said handle toproduoe any desired pressure.

The upper end of sleeve H is shaped to provide a simple plug valve as 18 which fits into aconical seat 19 provided to receive it in the upper end of the chamber. Any appropriate means may be provided for resiliently urging this valve to a proper position against said seat but for convenience the drawing illustrates a simple disc spring 20 resting upon the upper surface of said valve and being centrally engaged by an adjustable set screw 21 which is carried by a cover plate 22 of the body.

A supply passage 23, adapted for connection to any suitable source of fluid pressure is provided through the wall of the body and communicates with the seat 19.

Also communicating with the seat 19, preferably at a point just below the passage or port 23 is a second passage 2% which leads into the upper end of the auxiliary chamber 3.

From this auxiliary chamber leads a discharge pipe 25 through which fluid at regulated pressure is to be discharged.

A suitable passage 26 communicates between the lower ends of the main and auxiliary chambers.

At another point in the seat 19 is a relief port or passage 2'7 communicating with the atmosphere.

lVithin the valve 18 is provided a suitable passage 28 for communicating at proper times with ports 23, 24 and 27.

The operation of the mechanism may now be understood as follows: Air, or other fluid pressure entering through port 23 will traverse the passage 28 of valve 18 and flow into the auxiliary chamber whence it will pass outwardly through the pipe 25, meanwhile, however, exerting its pressure, through passage 26, against the under surface of the piston so that the position of the piston will vary with any variation in the pressure entering the device. This movement of the piston will rotate the valve 18 either forwardly or ba ckwardly as the case may be, that is according to whether the piston moves upwardly or downwardly, and will thereby automatically regulate the size of free opening between the port 23 and passage 28. A substantially uniform pressure is thus always delivered through pipe 25. It will be understood in this connection that upward movement of the piston will bring a solid wall surface as 29 of the valve across the port 23 and that the amount of free opening from said port will be determined by the extent to which said wall surface 29 covers said port. A heavy pressure entering the device and exerting its force against the piston will rotate the valve and thereby close down the-size of the port to that extent necessary only for allowing passage of fluid sufficient to produce just the desired pressure in pipe 25.

The operation as thus far described 18 based upon the supposition that the sleeve G is stationary so that the slot 12 thereof provides a fixed vertical path of movement for the pin 14, and it is the purpose of the spring device 17 above described to hold said sleeve in this relatively fixed position.

If now however, it is desired to increase the amount of pressure delivered to pipe 25, the operator, by grasping the handle 15 merely moves said handle backwardly, see

the arrow 30 in Fig. 2, to the desired extent,

as may be indicated by suitable indicating marks either on the member 17 or on the body L. This movement obviously will rotate not only the cylinder G but, through the medium of the pin 14 will likewise rotate the sleeve H and the valve, and by so doing will place the surface 29 of the valve relatively further away from the port 23 so that the piston must be raised correspondingly higher before said surface 29 will cut down the size of free opening from said passage 23. To raise the piston the increased distance of course requires greater pressure, and this increased pressure obviously will flow into pipe 25 and will be maintained substantially uniform at its increased standard as long as the handle 15 remains in its newly adjusted position.

If, on the other hand, a decreased pressure is desirable for pipe 25 the operator will move the handle forwardly, see arrow 30, Fig. 2, which will bring the surface 29 across the port 23 thus shutting oif the supply. At the same time an extended portion as 31 of the passage 28 will move into position more or less uncovering the exhaust port 27, a further extension" as 32 of said passage 28 meanwhile maintaining communication with the passage 24 so that pressure from the pipe 25 and the auxiliary cylinder, and from beneath the piston, may exhaust to the atmosphere. As the pressure beneath the piston decreases the piston will move downwardly and gradually shut off the exhaust and begin again to open the port 23. Any increase in the pressure will raise the piston and again open the exhaust port. Thus the reduced pressure in pipe 25 will be main tained as long as the handle 15 is allowed to stand.

And now it may be noted that by proper manipulation of the handle 15, either manually, or otherwise, the pressure delivered to pipe 25 may not only be altered as indicated but may be gradually increased or diminished at will, or as often, or as regularly, or to any extent desired between zero and maximum.

It will also be noted that the strength of spring 11 is a controlling factor in determining the amount of pressure passed at any given posit-ion of the handle 15,. and hence that controlling mechanisms of different capacities may be provided by merely selecting a proper strength of spring for produe= in g the desired results;

While only a single pair of slots 124 13, and a single pin leis reterredrto liereinabove it will be noted that the drawing sho-ws'two such groups arranged at: diametrically opposite sides of the piston rod, thus balancing the mechanism and producing a smoother action.

Asmany changes could be made in this construction without departing from the: scope of the invention asdefined inthe fol-- lowing claims,it is intended that' all matter contained in the above description, orshown. in the accompanying drawings, sliallbe iin terpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as-newand'desireto secure by Letters Patenttis 1. A fluid pressure regulator comprising: a rotary valve rotatable to controli the. amount of: fluid passing, a cylinder; a; pistonlongitudinally movable insaidcylinder arranged to be movediby the passedfluid, an inclined slot and pin connectionv betiveemthe piston and the valve whereby movement of: the piston will rotate the valve, and 2151115111? ual control, element forsaidieonnection comprisingL means whereby given amount} of movement of the pistonmay have aselec' tively determined eitect-i upon the valve.

2. A fluid pressure regulator comprisinga rotary valve rotatablerto control the-amount of fluid passing a cylinder, a=pisto-n longitu-r dinally movable in said cylinder; arranged'itobe moved by thepassed: fluid, a memberehaving a slot therein extending;longitudinally. in the direction of movement ofithewpiston, a part carried by the valvehaving a slot therein positioned adjacent to thefirst slot but being, inclined relativethereto, and. a, part carriedby the piston engaging within; said two slots whereby movement of, the piston will cause said part carriedlthereby to move longitudinally along said slots and thereby rotate the valve. I

3. A fluidpressure regulator comprising a rotary valve rotatable to control the amount of fluid passing, a cylinder, piston longitudinally movable in said oylinder arranged to be moved by the passed fluid, a member having a slot therein extending longitudinally in the direction of movement of the piston, a part carried by the valve having a slot therein positioned adjacent to the first slot but being inclined relative thereto, a part carried by the piston engaging with n said two slots whereby movement of the piston will cause said part carried thereby to move longitudinally along said slots and thereby rotate the valve, and means whereby said first slotted member is adjustable to thereby determine the operation of the valve.

4. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a rotary valve rotatable to :oontr'oh the 1 amount of fluid passing; a cylinder, a: piston; longi tudinally movable in said cylinder: arranged"v to be: moved? bythe passed fluid, the valve having itsn axis oit'i rotation substantially co-s incident with the: axial line ot the: cylinder, w sleeve extending: from. the valve toward carried by the; piston. rod engaging Within said slot to thereby rotate: the sleeve and valve by movement of the piston;

Ar fluid pnessu-re regulator comprising arotary valve rotatable: to control the; amount of'fluid-passingi, acylinder; aipist'on longitudinally movable in said, cylinder are ranged towbermoved by the. passed fluid, the valve-having its axis: of rotation substan tially coincidenti with-1 the axial lineof the cylinder, a s sleeve: extending from" the valvetoward& the piston, a; piston rod extending fronr the piston into said-sleeve,- a second sleeve exteriorly ofrthe first sleeve-and Wiltlh in which 1 the first sleeve is freely rotatable, said sleeves having mating slots-thenein,1 the Slot 3i ofi one: sleeve extending; in a direction inclined; relative tothe: direction oil the slot: otthe othersleeve-,;and;-a member carried by said piston; rod; xt nding; intorsai 1 mating slotsswhereby torotate the first sleevev and: valve by movement ofwthe piston. V

6. A fluidpressure regulator comprising a; rotary valve; rotatableto' control, the amount otflui-d passing a cylindena piston longitudinally movable in saidi cylinder ar+ rangedvto begmovedf by; the passed fluid, the: valve haz ving iits axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axial-line of thecylinder, sleeve extending frointhe valve toward, the piston, apiston rod extending from; the piston into said-sleeve, a second sleeve; exteriorly of the firstsleeve-andiwitlrin-whichthe first sleeve freely rotatable saidisleeves. having mating slots therein, the slot oiione sleeve extending ina direction in clinedreglative to. the direction of theislot ofthe othersleeve, amember carried by said; pistonrod extendinginto said mat-ing slots whereby to rotatethe first sleeve and valve by movement, of the, piston, and! means whereby said second sleeve is adjustably rotatably mounted to thereby regulate the movement of the valve.

7 A fluid pressure regulator comprising a rotary valve rotatable to control the amount of fluid passing, a cylinder, a piston longitudinally movable in said cylinder arranged to be moved by the passed fluid, the valve having its axis to rotation sub stantially coincident With the axial line of the cylinder, a sleeve extending from the valve toward the piston, a piston rod extending from the piston into the sleeve, the sleeve having a slot therein, a member'carried by the piston movable therewith adapted to traverse said slot, means to determine the path of movement of said piston carried member in a manner to produce rotation of the valve upon movement of the piston, and means whereby said path determining means is adjustable. to change the path at will.

8. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a rotary valve rotatable to determine the amount of fluid passing, a cylinder, a piston longitudinally movable in the cylinder arranged to be moved by the passed fluid, the valve having its axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axial line of the cylinder, a sleeve extending from the valve to ward the piston, a piston rod extending from the piston into the sleeve, a second sleeve exterio-rly of the first sleeve and within which the firstsleeve is freely rotatable, said sleeves having mating slots therein, the slot of one sleeve extending in a direction inclined relative to the direction of the slot of the other sleeve, a member swiveled upon the piston rod to move therewith but being rotatable relative to said rod, said swiveled member having a part projecting through said mating slots whereby to rotate the first sleeve and valve by movement of the piston, and means whereby to rotatably adjust said two sleeves as a unit to thereby regulate the movement of the valve.

9. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, spring means to urge the piston in one direction, valve means for regulating the pressure of passing fluid effective upon the opposite side of the piston, connections between said piston and said valve means to control the operation of said valve means by movement of the piston, said connections including a pair of rotatably mounted sleeves, one sleevebeing positioned within the other and being freely rotatable relative thereto, said sleeves having mating slots therethrough, and an extension part of the piston projecting through said mating slots, the slot of one sleeve being inclined relative to the slot of the other sleeve whereby movement of said extension part along said slots willrotate the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, and means including said projecting part whereby said two sleeves are rotatably adj ustably as a unit to thereby regulate the effect of the piston movement upon the valve means.

10. In a fluid pressure regulator, a rotary valve through which the fluid must pass for delivery, a piston arranged to be moved by the passed fluid, a sleeve connected with said valve to rotate therewith, and means connected with the piston extending into the sleeve having operative connection with the sleeve to cause rotation of the sleeve and consequent rotation of the valve upon movement of the iston.

11. I11 a fluid pressure regulator, a rotary valve through which the fluid must pass for delivery, a piston arranged to be moved by the passed fluid, a sleeve connected with said valve to rotate therewith, and means connected with the piston extending into the sleeve having operativeconnection with the sleeve to cause rotation of the sleeve and consequent rotation of the valve upon movement of the piston, together with a inanually operable member adapted to be selectively positioned to determine the effect of a given amount of movement of the piston upon the action of the valve.

12. A fluid pressure regulator comprising a rotatable valve member rotatable to control the amount of fluid passing, a cylinder, a piston member movable within said cylinder arranged to be moved by the passed fluid, the valve member having its axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axial line of the cylinder, a sleeve extending co-axially from one of said mentioned members toward the other mentioned member, a piston rod extending co-axially from said other mentioned member into said sleeve, and said sleeve and said piston rod having interengaging parts whereby movement of the piston device will rotate the valve device.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH ERNEST JONES.

WVitnesses:

ELMER J. ARMsTRoNo, VALTER H. Vans. 

